Broom and method of assembly



Oct. 17, 1967 s. LEVENTHAL BROOM AND METHOD OF ASSEMBLY Filed Nov. 23, 1966 INVENTOR SHELDON LEVENTHAL ATTORNEYS United States Patent Office 3,346,902 Patented Oct. 17, 1967 3,346,902 BROOM AND METHOD OF ASSEMBLY Sheldon Leventhal, 22655 Chagrin Blvd., Cleveland, Ohio 44122 Filed Nov. 23, 1966, Ser'. No. 596,539 9 Claims. (Cl. 15171) ABSTRACT OF THE DISCLOSURE A hand broom device made from a flexible polymeric material comprising integral handle and cap members. The cap member including a hollow flared shoulder portion having an opening at one end for receiving in confining and gripping relationship a plurality of broom fibers and an adhesive material disposed between the broom fibers and the interior surface of the shoulder portion.

The present invention relates to brooms, and more particularly to hand brooms.

Much time is consumed in assembling a hand broom, such as a whisk broom or the like. In one prior form of hand broom the fibers were disposed adjacent one end about a narrow insert and banded by metal wire to form an elongated narrow neck portion which was topped with a metal cap at the other end. The fibers bunched outward over a shoulder portion which derived its shape and internal support either from a wooden insert or from shorter length fibers about which the fibers that formed the continuation of the neck fibers were disposed. The fibers were held together by stitching or other fastening mens located below the shoulder portion and the fibers flared outwardly from the stitching to form the free-ended skirt portion. The production of such brooms was time consuming and resulted in extensive labor costs. The assembly task was magnified because of the need to dispose the fibers about the wooden inserts and tightly and securely apply the wire bending and stitchinga task which required skillful application in order that the broom would be able to withstand the pressures applied to the fibers when the broom was used.

Attempts have been made to overcome the problem of assembly cost and the need for skilled application by the use of a metal or plastic cap and fittting the fibers into the cap. Such prior attempts required the continued use of some form of wooden insert and difficulties existed in firmly securing the fibers inside the capcomplex and costly appurtenances were required. Moreover such brooms were often unattractive in appearance and ungainly to use.

Accordingly, it is an object of the present invention to produce a hand broom having a polymeric cap which eliminates the need for an internal support of wood or the like.

Another object is to provide a hand broom which eliminates complex assembly techniques.

A further object is to provide a hand broom which can be produced at greatly reduced labor costs; which is simple to assemble; yet which has outstanding strength characteristics.

A still further object is to produce a hand broom which is neat and attractive in appearance without ungainly protuberances.

Another object is to produce a hand broom which readily fits the hand of the user and is convenient to use.

Other objects and advantages of the invention will be apparent from the following observations and accompanying drawings, wherein:

FIG. 1 is a fragmentary elevation view of a hand broom made in accordance with the present invention;

FIG. 2 is a fragmentary perspective partly sectioned view illustrating the fibers being inserted into the deformed cap during assembly; and

FIG. 3 is an end view of the cap opening prior to deformation in assembly.

Referring again to the drawings, FIG. 1 illustrates a preferred form of the invention. The hand broom comprises a fibrous lower portion 22 and a polymeric cap 20. The cap 20 has a flared shoulder portion 38 and a neck 28. As shown in FIG. 2, the cap 20 is of unitary hollow construction, and as illustrated in FIG. 3, the crosssectional shape of the cap is generally elliptical, having a major axis 51 and a minor axis 52.

The cap 20 is preferably molded to have the general cross-sectional shape of FIG. 3. It is preferred that the cap be made from a relatively flexible polymeric material which is soft enough to permit a fastener to be driven into the cap to hold the fibers in place, flexible enough to permit the shape of the cap to be deformed during the assembly operation hereinafter described, and resilient enough to return towards its original shape to hold the fibers in the desired position subsequent to assembly. A suitable material for this purpose, when molded in the shape of the present invention, is a medium-high or high density polyolefin such as poly ethylene of a .944 S.P.I. density.

By molding the cap with a particular external shape, undulation and rib construction, a cap is provided which does not require a supporting insert in the neck or body despite the fact that the cap is hollow and made of a relatively soft polymeric material. Moreover, the shape provides an improved assembly.

The neck portion, 28, contains integrally molded spaced cross bands 36a, 36b and 360, each of which is preferably made up of a series of closely spaced ribs such as at 37. The cross portions 36a, 36b and 36c are disposed transversely of the length of the neck 28. The portions 34a and 341) between the cross pieces 36 are integrally molded so as to provide a concave bulging portion between the cross bands 36a, 36b and 36c. The intermediary longitudinal portions 34a, and 34b preferably contain a plurality of longitudinally disposed ribs such as at 35, which are integrally molded into the neck. It is preferred that the neck be completed with a knob 30 which is substantially rectangular in vertical crosssection and substantially circular in horizontal crosssection. The knob may have an integrally molded bail 32 thereon to facilitate the storage of the broom.

The shoulder 38 of the broom is flared outwardly as at 41 adjacent the opening 43, and contains a plurality of spaced ribs 39 which generally extend lengthwise of the shoulder portion. It is preferred that the ribs 39 converge as they approach the base of cross band 36a, which is disposed on the neck at the juncture between the neck and the shoulder portion.

It is preferred that one cross band, 36a, appear at the juncture between the shoulder 38 and the neck 28, that a second and wider cross band 36b appear part way up the neck, and that a third cross band 36c appear adjacent the juncture of the neck 28 and the cap 20.

It is preferred that the shoulder portion 38 have a raised edge 42 adjacent the opening 43. It is further preferred that an integrally molded raised cross band 40 be disposed in spaced parallel relation to the raised edge 42 adjacent the end of the shoulder 38. A series of integrally molded spaced projections or teeth 50 are disposed on the interior surface of the cap 20 between the edge 42 and cross piece 40 and coact with the fibers to hold the latter in the cap 20 (FIG. 2).; in addition, a series of spaced ribs 47 are disposed on the internal surface of the shoulder 38 commencing opposite the cross piece 40 and converging towards the neck 28. The ribs 47, in coaction with the flare 41 assist in carrying out the assembly technique which permits the shoulder 38 to be contracted to approach a circular cross-section while the fibers 22 are inserted and then return to its original shape so as to properly distribute the fibers in the desired position and to do so in a snap action and without breaking of the shoulder 38.

An adhesive 57 (FIG. 2) may be disposed between the fibers and the inner surface of the cap 20. The adhesive may be a suitable pitch type of resin known in the art.

In a preferred form of the invention, fasteners 44, such as staples are driven through the cap at or adjacent the raised edge 42 and into the fibers 22.

The assembly of the hand broom may be readily made in a few quick and effective steps. The shoulder 38 of the cap 20 is deformed by a manual or mechanical squeezing action which causes a reduction of the major axis 51 (FIG. 3) and a concurrent expansion of the minor axis 52 of the shoulder 38 so that the shoulder in crosssection becomes more circular. The fibers 22, the ends of which have been dipped in adhesive, may be inserted in cylindrical bundles into the opening 43. A convenient stretchable means, such as a rubber band 45, may hold the fibers in the cylindrical form during insertion. The pressure is then removed from the sides of the shoulder 38 thereby permitting it to snap resiliently back towards the original shape (FIG. 2). By the foregoing arrangement the fibers are inserted without stripping the adhesive and shoulder 38 automatically aligns the fibers in the desired position with the shoulder holding them in place by a resilient action. The internal ribs 47 and the teeth 50 provide with the adhesive a coacting locking of the fibers. The staples 44 are then driven into the raised edge 42 to provide a further coacting securement of the fibers. By the simple steps of (1) dipping the fibers 22 in cement, (2) deforming the shoulder 38, (3) inserting the fibers, (4) allowing the shoulder to return towards its original shape, and (5) inserting the staples, a facile assembly technique which produces a uniform product with a substantial reduction in labor costs results. Moreover, the assembled broom is of unusual strength.

In a modification of the invention (not shown), the shoulder portion may be as described, but the cylindrical neck portionmay be made open adjacent the end and without the knob 30 so as to receive the bottom portion of a wooden broom handle (not shown), staples (not shown) may be driven into the neck to hold the neck to the handle. The fibers would then be inserted into the shoulder portion by the same heretofore described method. Such modified broom may be a hand broom or an upright broom depending on the length of the handle.

It is to be understood that additional reinforcing spaced cross pieces 40 may be added adjacent the open end of the shoulder 38.

The terms and expressions which have been used are used as terms of description and not of limitation, and there is no intention in the use of such terms and descriptions of excluding any equivalents of any of the features shown and described, or portions thereof, and it is recognized that various modifications are possible within the scope of the invention claimed.

I claim:

1. A hand broom device comprising, a cap member from a flexible polymeric material and including an upper hollow handle portion and a lower hollow, inverted shoulder portion made integral with and extending downwardly from said handle portion, said handle portion being free of any internal support such as plug or the.

like, said shoulder portion being flared outwardly and downwardly in a direction away from said handle portion and having an opening adjacent its lower end defined by a major axis and a minor axis in transverse cross-section for receiving therethrough said broom fibers, an adhesive material disposed between said broom fibers and the confronting interior surface of said shoulder portion, said shoulder portion having a first set of laterally spaced exterior ribs extending lengthwise around the exterior periphery thereof and a second set of laterally spaced ribs extending lengthwise around the interior periphery thereof, all of said ribs formed from the material of said shoulder portion and converging toward one another in a direction toward said handle portion, and the. material of said shoulder portion being yieldably deformable so as to decrease the dimension of said major axis and increase the dimension of said minor axis of said opening upon application of pressure to said shoulder portion to enable free insertion of said broom fibers through said opening and, thereafter, to return to the original shape of said opening as defined by said major and minor axes for tight gripping and confining engagement of said adhesive material with said broom fibers.

2. A hand broom device in accordance with claim 1, wherein said shoulder portion includes a raised edge formed from the material thereof and extending transversely completely around its periphery adjacent said opening, a raised cross-band formed from the materialof said shoulder portion and extending transversely completely around its periphery and in lengthwise spaced and parallel relationship with respect to said raised edge.

3. A hand broom device in accordance with claim 2, wherein the extensions of all of said ribs extend lengthwise between said raised cross-band and said raised edge.

4. A hand broom device in accordance with claim 2, including a plurality of spaced teeth formed from the material of said shoulder portion adjacent said raised edge extending interiorly thereof for gripping coacting engagement with said broom fibers.

5. A hand broom device in accordance with claim 2, including a plurality of fastener elements disposed through said raised edge into gripping coacting engagement with said broom fibers.

6. A hand broom device in accordance with claim 1, wherein saidhandle portion includes upper, intermediate and lower lengthwise spaced recessed cross-bands, each of said cross-bands including a plurality of raised ribs formed from the material of said handle portion and extending transversely completed around the periphery thereof.

7. A hand broom device in accordance with claim 6, including a first radially arcuate bulge portion disposed between said upper and intermediate cross-bands, a second radially arcuate bulge portion disposed between said intermediate and lower cross-bands, and each of said bulge portions projecting above the adjacent cross-bands and including a plurality of raised ribs formed from the material of said handle portion and extending lengthwise between the respective cross-bands.

8. A hand broom device in accordance with claim 6, including a knob made integral with said handle portion adjacent said upper cross-band, said knob including an integral, generally U-shaped bail extending upwardly in a direction away from said handle portion.

9. A method of assembling a broom comprising taking a plurality of fibers in a generally cylindrical bundle,

dipping one end of the bundle into an adhesive means, taking a polymeric cap having a handle portion and a hollow shoulder portion defining an opening adjacent one end with a cross-sectional major axis and minor axis, said shoulder portion being flared outwardly and downwardly in a direction toward said opening and having a plurality of interior and exterior ribs extending lengthwise thereof and converging toward one another in a direction toward said handle portion, applying pressure to the shoulder so as to change its cross-sectional shape adjacent said opening so as to shorten the major axis and lengthen the minor axis, inserting the ends of the fibers having the adhesive means thereon into the cap, and releasing the said pressure whereby the cap tends to resume its original shape thereby conforming the shape of the said bundle generally to the original shape of said cap.

References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS CHARLES A. WILLMUTH, Primary Examiner. PETER FELDMAN, Assistant Examiner. 

1. A HAND BROOM DEVICE COMPRISING, A CAP MEMBER AND A PLURALITY OF BROOM FIBERS DISPOSED WITHIN AND PROJECTING DOWNWARDLY FROM SAID CAP MEMBER, SAID CAP MEMBER BEING OF A UNITARY, ONE-PIECE CONSTRUCTION MADE FROM A FLEXIBLE POLYMERIC MATERIAL AND INCLUDING AN UPPER HOLLOW HANDLE PORTION AND A LOWER HOLLOW, INVERTED SHOULDER PORTION MADE INTEGRAL WITH AND EXTENDING DOWNWARDLY FROM SAID HANDLE PORTION, SAID HANDLE PORTION BEING FREE OF ANY INTERNAL SUPPORT SUCH AS PLUG OR THE LIKE, SAID SHOULDER PORTION BEING FLARED OUTWARDLY AND DOWNWARDLY IN A DIRECTION AWAY FROM SAID HANDLE PORTION AND HAVING AN OPENING ADJACENT ITS LOWER END DEFINED BY A MAJOR AXIS AND A MINOR AXIS IN TRANSVERSE CROSS-SECTION FOR RECEIVING THERETHROUGH SAID BROOM FIBERS, AND ADHESIVE MATERIAL DISPOSED BETWEEEN SAID BROOM FIBERS AND THE CONFRONTING INTERIOR SURFACE OF SAID SHOULDER PORTION, SAID SHOULDER PORTION HAVING A FIRST SET OF LATERALLY SPACED EXTERIOR RIBS EXTENDING LENGTHWISE AROUND THE EXTERIOR PERIPHERY THEREOF AND A SECOND SET OF LATERALLY SPACED RIBS EXTENDING LENGTHWISE AROUND THE INTERIOR PERIPHERY THEREOF, ALL OF SAID RIBS FORMED FROM THE MATERIAL OF SAID SHOULDER PORTION AND CONVERGING TOWARD ONE ANOTHER IN A DIRECTION TOWARD SAID HANDLE PORTION, AND THE MATERIAL OF SAID SHOULDER PORTION BEING YIELDABLY DEFORMABLE SO AS TO DECREASE THE DIMENSION OF SAID MAJOR AXIS AND INCREASE THE DIMENSION OF SAID MINOR AXIS OF SAID OPENING UPON APPLICATION OF PRESSURE TO SAID SHOULDER PORTION TO ENABLE FREE INSERTION OF SAID BROOM FIBERS THROUGH SAID OPENING AND, THEREAFTER, TO RETURN TO THE ORIGINAL SHAPE OF SAID OPENING AS DEFINED BY SAID MAJOR AND MINOR AXES FOR TIGHT GRIPPING AND CONFINING ENGAGEMENT OF SAID ADHESIVE MATERIAL WITH SAID BROOM FIBERS. 